By Ron St. Germain
For the Lansing State Journal

Remember the water skiing squirrel?

The lure that the annual Lansing, Sportfishing, Boat and Travel Show is throwing out this year is about 1,200 pounds bigger.

And although Brodie doesn't water ski, Lansing will get a unique opportunity to see why this kodiak bear has become both a screen star and National Geographic magazine cover model.

The Sportfishing, Boat and Travel show is a unique blend and this year carries a big theme. Visitors to the Lansing Center between March 7 to 10 will see the area's biggest collection of boats, pontoons and fishing equipment, as well as professional guides and charter services ready to lead anglers to the lunkers.

Show times are 3-10 p.m. March 7 and 8, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. March 9 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. March 10.

Admission is $7 for adults, $3.50 for ages 6-14 and children under 5 are free.

The trophy display of world record fish might arouse imaginations and some of the country's biggest fishing stars will be on hand to conduct seminars.

Show publicist, and well-known author Tom Huggler has worked hard to make the show a success.

"The Lansing area will have a unique opportunity to get first-hand information from some of the nation's best-known fishing personalities,'' he said.

One of those personalities is Kalamazoo native Kevin Van Dam, who has risen to stardom by becoming the hottest fisherman on the Pro Bass Tour and his picture recently appeared on the Kellogg Corn Flakes cereal box. The three-peat B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year, will present a one-day seminar to share his secrets and experiences.

"People don't understand how difficult it is to have done what he has done in the sport of fishing,'' said Huggler. "All of our speakers and instructors at this show are top-notch in their fields.''

And what would a Sportfishing show be without something to keep the children's interest?

They can scale the Jeep rock climbing wall, try their luck in the newly designed trout pond or learn to tie flies. Maybe your child might make the cut for the Michigan State casting championship. Kids may try and qualify at special times on March 8 and 9. The finals will be March 10, last day of the show.

"We'll have 150 kids from all over the state that have already qualified showing up for the finals,'' show organizer Adam Starr said. "They will compete for accuracy and distance. It's quite exciting for the youths."

Where else are you going to meet a guy like national flycasting champion Tim Rayjeff, who can toss a fly 150 feet? Or witness some of the most beautiful fish taxidermy available? Even see how it's done. How often do we get a chance to sit down with people who fish for a living and really get our facts straight? And what a great opportunity the show provides for families who may want to try fishing for the first time.

"My mom and dad were too busy to teach me to fish or take me fishing so we missed a whole generation of fishing in my family,'' said Mark Stephens of Michigan State University's Project Fish, who will be on hand to teach new anglers young and old the basics of getting started in the sport. "We teach people how to teach people to fish, so we are bridging that gap.''

Super clinics for walleye, bass, salmon and steelhead range from two to three hours and average $20, but participants are given monster grab bags in return. Sign up for a super clinic during the week and get a free pass to the weekend show. All other clinics or seminars are free with admission including Van Dam's.

Show-goers will have many tough choices to make when picking a seminar to attend, including the, one-on-one mini-seminars which give hands-on demonstrations for a variety of techniques.